Thursday, April 30, 2020

You’ve been at home for
weeks or maybe a couple of months now. It's hard to keep track of time,
as the days have started to blur together. Helplessly, you watch the
news about 26 million people losing their jobs
since mid-March and filing for unemployment. There’s a constant
struggle to work from home, homeschool your kids and try not to go
stir-crazy from being housebound for so long. If you’ve lost your job or
are currently worried about losing it, you suffer with an added
overhang of stress and anxiety.

There’s some hope on the
horizon. We’re getting closer to the economy reopening and returning to
some sort of a new normalcy. This also comes with trepidation about
health risks and how the economy will hold up. Will we face a resurgent
virus outbreak once we settle into our routine, which includes commuting
on crowded trains and buses?

If you’re in between
jobs or worried about losing your position, future prospects look bleak.
In addition to the millions already downsized, there’s talk of millions
more who will suffer the same fate. Companies are enacting hiring
freezes, as they don’t have a clue as to what will happen next. You'll
be thrusted into the worst job market since the Great Depression.

The reality is that—for
many—you have no choice but to forge ahead despite the strong headwind
working against you. Here’s what you need to do now.

1) Start doing something and take action, even if it's little baby steps.

It's easy to tell
yourself that you’ll wait until things get better. That may or may not
happen any time soon. Procrastination won't change anything—only
proactive actions will. There’s nothing to gain by feeling sorry for
yourself. It's okay to be afraid of jumping off of the high diving
board. For now, just dip your toe in the water and start swimming later.

2) Prepare a plan of attack.

If you can remember
football games or live sports, the players just don't run around
willy-nilly. The teams devise plans that they’ll execute on game day and
continually practice and run drills. Similarly, you will need to create
a job search game plan.

You can start by updating your résumé and Linkedin profile.
Then, contact some recruiters who specialize in your space. Search job
boards and apply to relevant listings. Tap into your network to gain
leads to find the right person at the company you want to work at.

Practice your elevator pitch
and role play the interview with someone you trust. Familiarize
yourself with Zoom and other online video technologies, as that is what
companies will use to interview for the foreseeable future.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

In efforts to limit the spread of the
COVID-19, many companies have adapted to remote work by leveraging video
systems like Zoom to connect virtually with their employees. Employers,
who are still actively hiring, likeInstacart, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft,
are opting for virtual interactions to take the place of in-person job
interviews. This shift in the career marketplace has changed the way we
conduct our professional lives and hiring processes. So what’s a virtual
interview? If you’ve never experienced a virtual interview before, a virtual interview is an interview that takes place remotely, often using technology like video conferencing.Although the interviewer’s
questions are likely to be similar to ones posed in an in-person
interview, there will be differences between interviewing in-person
versus interviewing virtually. For
prospective employees, trying to make a pitch about their career
qualifications and sharing their brand narrative via video conferencing
software, such as Skype, Zoom, or Google Hangouts, can feel a bit
overwhelming. If you’re currently on the job
hunt or moving to the next step of the hiring process, here are some
best practices and answered questions from our recruiting team at
Glassdoor to help you ace your virtual interview and to get you set up
for success.

1. Position yourself in a well-lit, quiet, clean space. It’s essential to choose a quiet, well-lit, neutral, and clean space
to conduct your interview, especially if you’re taking the virtual
interview from home to limit distractions. Unlike interviewing in the
office or a public space, virtual interviews provide an intimate glimpse
into your personal life. Be sure to give a great first impression by
keeping your area clean and limit any interruptions from family members,
pets, partners, and roommates.

2. Test your technology beforehand. It’s imperative that you check and
test your technology several times before the interview and that day to
ensure success. Be sure to double-check your wifi connection, camera
and audio, and video conferencing platforms to confirm they are all
working seamlessly. Being technologically savvy is a coveted skill that
employers are looking for, and by not doing your due diligence to ensure
that you’re good to go in the technology realm, you could have the
hiring manager or interviewer questioning if you’re the right candidate
for the position.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Consider this: Freelancers are expected to become the U.S. workforce majority in the near future. That means we can expect to see more and more freelancing
job boards appear. That's not to say we need them. Take a look at the
Google search results for “freelance jobs.” You’ll find hundreds of
websites that can connect you with prospective clients.

The
problem, however, is that not all job boards are created equal. Some are
a bit suspicious, causing both freelancers and businesses to question
their legitimacy. Others are meant only for seasoned veterans. There are
also boards capable of finding work quickly for freelancers, but they
won’t get paid very much. Consider it the "price of entry" to the
freelance realm.

These obstacles make finding freelance work more
complicated than it has to be. That’s why I’ve put together a list of
18 freelance sites to help entrepreneurs find their next gig. Each of
these sites is reputable and can be used by freelancers of all
experience levels, empowering people to make the most of their skills in
a shaky economy.

Upwork
has been around in some form for years. Elance and oDesk were formed in
1999 and 2003, respectively, and merged to found Upwork. Today, Upwork
is one of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world, hosting
millions of freelancers in industries like design, development,
accounting, marketing, writing and customer service.

Like Toptal,
freelancers can find short-term tasks, recurring projects and even
full-time contract work. Upwork is good for both entry-level and
experienced freelancers because of the variety of work listed.

Freelancer
states that it’s the “the world’s largest outsourcing marketplace,”
connecting more than 30 million employees and freelancers across 247
countries. With Freelancer, you can a find a couple of different ways to
work. The first way is by creating a profile that highlights your
freelancing skills. When a client needs your specific skills, he can
chat with you in real time.

The other way is by browsing for work
and placing bids on projects that match your talents and interests. When
your work is complete, you’ll receive a secure payment via the site’s
Milestone Payment System.

SimplyHired
is a job search engine that helps people find remote or local work in
12 different countries. SimplyHired contains more than 100 job boards,
meaning you'll have access to millions of job openings ranging from
marketing to customer service. You can even find nursing and warehouse
work.

You can also search for both part-time and full-time work,
making SimplyHired a great platform to quickly land a job. It produces a
blog that contains helpful advice on how to make yourself more
attractive to recruiters.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

In the past four weeks, more than 22 millions Americans
filed for unemployment. People across all industries have been impacted
in some way either through losing their job or having their hours
reduced. As unemployment surges, gig workers and the self employed are
also struggling to keep their businesses afloat. Funding for small
businesses ran out faster than anticipated leaving the self-employed and
gig economy with no other option than to join the millions of other
workers seeking work.

Data published by C Space, sponsored by Monster,
revealed more than a third (34%) of employees are actively seeking a
job, though confidence is low. The job search process will undoubtedly
prove to be difficult for college seniors, some gig workers,
self-employed and the unemployed. If job seekers want to prevail, they
need to be adaptable, persistent and have a strong mindset to overcome
mass rejections.

Here are seven things to help job seekers be successful in their job search during this crisis.

1) Explore Alternative Possibilities

Candidates shouldn’t overlook the possibility of contract, temporary
or gig roles. Additionally, they should remain open-minded about
flexible hours. Brandi Frattini, Talent Acquisition Manager at CareerBuilder,
recommended “job seekers should also look for opportunities in other
businesses within similar sections where the demand is growing.”Focusing on in demand industries and companies such as healthcare,
telecommuting software, shipping and delivery services, tech support,
warehousing and logistics and food supply chain are great ways to
increase ones chance in finding a job.

CareerBuilder released new data sharing current in demand companies and jobs.The top businesses hiring are:

Northeastern University describes a personal brand
as being “who you are, what you stand for, the values you embrace, and
the way in which you express those values.” A job seekers personal brand
is what will set them apart from the competition. A personal brand
forms regardless if someone is intentional or not about creating one.
The more clear and aligned someones brand is, the more it appeals to an
employer.

Building a personal brand goes beyond a resume and cover letter.
Employers are known to Google candiates to see what their online
presence portrays about them. Employers want to avoid hiring potential
liabilities and those who contradict their core values. An example would
be a company promoting inclusivity but has employees making
discriminatory comments.

In addition to maintaining their current social media channels, job
seekers should entertain additional avenues to demonstrate their skills.
These can include creating a YouTube series, writing a blog,
contributing to industry publications or designing a website to showcase
their talents.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

It can be harder to concentrate while working from home, and social
distancing may impede your networking, but you can still get job search
ready while you wait for the economy to open up. Here are seven items
you can work on while you shelter in place:

1 - Story for why you are looking

It’s no secret that the economy and therefore the job market is
expected to be adversely affected by the pandemic. Therefore, if you
already have a job, prospective employers will want to know why you are
looking now. Why are you willing to take a risk and venture out into a
shrinking, more competitive job pool? If you don’t have a good answer,
some will assume the worst – that you are being pushed out.

The fix? Never go negative on your current job and instead focus on
what is exciting about your next job. Tailor your response to the
employer you’re talking to. Job search is like dating – employers want
to know you’re genuinely interested in them, not just looking to get
away from your ex. If you were laid off during the pandemic, you still
need a story about what you’re looking for, and it should also be what
is exciting about your next job, not how desperate you are about any
job. Again, think of the dating parallel – employers don’t want to be
the rebound relationship.

4 - Video interview

Video interviews are not the same as live interviews, so you need to prepare for video interviews
specifically. In addition, there are recorded video interviews (e.g.,
Interview Stream, Easy Hire) where you don’t have a live interaction but
rather receive a set of questions and answer to a recording. Be aware
that employers are using these tools, so you can prepare now.

The fix? With the increase in video calls because of social
distancing mandates, it’s easy to get complacent with the technology and
act too familiar on an interview. You’re also in your home instead of a
formal office – more encouragement to get casual. Practice video
interviewing for jobs specifically. Enlist a friend from HR or a coach
to take you through a mock video interview. Record a video interview
from start-to-finish to simulate the recorded interviews you may be
asked to do.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

If you are applying for remote roles or if you are looking for jobs
during this period of social distancing, mastering video interviews is
very important. Likely you have some experience with taking phone and
even some Zoom/Google Hangout interviews in the past, but we wanted to
compile a list of video interview tips so that you go into these calls
with confidence.Most companies follow the same general interview flow:

Phone screen with HR/recruiter

Technical phone or video interview

Onsite/video interview, which includes technical, behavioral, and cross-functional interviews

We have worked with hundreds of people through their phone screens
and the rest of their interviews so that they can land great jobs and we
wanted to share some of our top tips to prepare for these video
interviews so you can go in with confidence.

1. Learn what is important to the company

You need to research the company
before your phone screen and all behavioral interviews so that you have
a good understanding of the company’s mission, values, and products. Knowledge of the company mission will help you when you talk about
yourself, in your elevator pitch (introduction) and throughout the
behavioral questions. You want to connect your experience and goals to
the company’s values so they know you are a good culture fit. Check out
the company’s About page, Culture page, and Jobs/Careers page for
information on what they look for in a good candidate and team member.
If you are looking for an elevator pitch template to adapt for yourself, check out our guide.You should also make sure you have a good sense of the products that
the company works on. A lot of people skip this step when they are
interviewing with big tech companies because they already use the
products. While it is beneficial for you to be a user of the product, so
much so that you should consider downloading the app or signing up
before interviewing, you should also make sure you read about each
product on their website to get a better understanding of the history
and goals. You should be able to speak intelligently about how you can
drive impact, especially if you are applying for a specific product
team, like Oculus at Facebook.

2. Prepare responses to common behavioral interview questions

Don’t let yourself be taken by surprise. There are some questions you
know you will be asked, so you should prepare your responses as best
you can before the interview. You don’t want to come across as
rehearsed, but you do get the added advantage of being behind the
computer screen, so you can use notes to help you while you respond.Phone interviews are typically brief and more conversational, but
behavioral interviews in your “onsite” will be more in depth. Some
questions you will likely see are: